Subject complements

Some clauses consist of a subject, the verb be and an expression that either modifies the subject or denotes something identical to the subject.

Jane is a journalist.

The children were very excited.

Susie is in the shower.

The expression that modifies the subject in clauses like these is often called a subject complement. Subject complements can also follow other copular verbs like become, seem and look.

Alice became a doctor.

She looks depressed.

Object complement

An object complement is a phrase which follows a direct object and either modifies that object or denotes something identical to it.

She called me a liar.

They made her a star.

I consider hang-gliding dangerous.

Complements of verbs, nouns and adjectives

Words and expressions which complete the meaning of a verb, noun or adjective are also called complements.

I am fond of children. (of children is the complement of the adjective fond.)

I am sorry to tell you this. (to tell you this is the complement of the adjective sorry.)

Let us get a bottle of wine. (of wine is the complement of the noun bottle.)

She wants to find a new job. (to find a new job is the complement of the verb wants.)

It is important to know what kinds of complements can come after a particular word. For example, interested can be followed by in -- -ing or by an infinitive; want can be followed by an infinitive, but suggest cannot; on the other hand suggest can be followed by a that-clause, but want cannot.